Schools

CONWAY—The University of Central Arkansas Foundation, Inc. has received $215,500 to support the Nursing Simulation Lab in the Department of Nursing.

“Nursing has afforded me the opportunity to care for a lot of individuals,” said Elizabeth A. Blankenship, CEO of Southridge Village Nursing and Rehabilitation. “With our ability to gift to the nursing program, the students will have some of the best technology available to them, and I believe it will assist in their training and education.”

Blankenship, along with her daughters and fellow UCA alumnae, Ashley M. Blankenship and Gretchen E. Humphreys, made the gift in a presentation that included UCA faculty, staff and students.

UCA President Tom Courtway expressed gratitude to the Blankenship family, “Thank you very much for your generosity. Thank you, more than anything else, for believing in UCA and believing in this college and this department.”

CONWAY, Ark. - The long-running hit musical Mamma Mia! will visit the University of Central Arkansas’s Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall for two performances in February.

The original date — Monday, Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m. — sold out quickly, so UCA Public Appearances has scheduled a second show for Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m.

“The Central Arkansas community has been requesting for years that we add Mamma Mia! to our Broadway series,“ said Amanda Horton, director of UCA Public Appearances. “The show became available for single booking nights this year, and the routing was coming near Conway, so it all worked out in our favor.

“Once we announced the season, the Mamma Mia! tickets immediately began selling, and we quickly sold out. So we worked with the company to add another show so that more of our community could see this popular performance.”

The bikers will begin their line up at 10 a.m. at Landers Toad Suck Harley Davidson, 1110 Collier Drive off Museum Road in Conway. At noon, Santa will lead the way for a caravan of motorcycles, trikes and cages (cars) leaving the dealership for Conway Regional Medical Center, where they will deliver the toys.

About 250 people participated in the event last year.

“No child should be in the hospital at Christmas without a toy,” said Steve “Painter” Polk, who has organized the Toy Run since it began in 2000.

“Each year, the number of toys has grown to the point that it supplies our patients all year,” said Jo Lynne Gasaway, RN, Director of Pediatrics.

CONWAY, Ark. - The University of Central Arkansas will host an open house on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for the new UCA Downtown at 1105 Oak Street.

UCA Downtown will be home to culinary, fine arts, technology and other community education and lifelong learning programs hosted by UCA. Located within walking distance to popular restaurants, shopping, Toad Suck Square and Simon Park, UCA Downtown can also be rented to host upscale events, business meetings and other small functions.

The Conway community is invited to visit the new facility for a tour and to enjoy hot chocolate, candy canes, entertainment and door prizes. The open house is free and open to the public.

UCA Downtown officially opens in January.

For more information, contact the UCA Division of Outreach and Community Engagement at (501) 450-3118.

CONWAY—The University of Central Arkansas will hold Commencement on Saturday, Dec. 12 in the Jeff Farris Health and Physical Education Center on the campus.

Commencement for the College of Business, College of Education and the College of Fine Arts and Communication will be held at 10 a.m.

Commencement for the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

UCA President Tom Courtway will deliver a challenge to the graduates. Dr. Steven Runge, executive vice president and provost, will be master of ceremonies. Zach Carter, 2015-2016 president of the Student Government Association, will bring greetings from the students and Dr. Benjamin Rowley, 2015-2016 president of the Faculty Senate, will address the graduates on behalf of the faculty.

University officials will confer 522 undergraduate degrees and 276 graduate degrees during two ceremonies.

CONWAY, Ark. - Officers with the Conway Police Department will be out in full force this Holiday Season so that you can 'Shop Secure.'

The City Council has allocated $50,000 to have four additional officers per shift to work overtime from November 26 to December 27. Along with regular patrols all over town, two officers will focus specifically on the Commons shopping center, one will work the Towne Center and we will have an officer patrolling the downtown area.

“We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback in the past from both business owners and customers about the presence of police officers in the shopping centers,” said Chief Spradlin with the Conway Police Department. “Many felt safer and strongly believed it was a deterrence to crime.”